<p>Hey everyone! I searched through the pages and did not see the question posted yet. So after much thinking, I will not be dorming at UCI because I live about twenty minutes away and it would be more beneficial if I lived at home or off-campus. I was wondering, if I report as staying at home for my gift aid, will UCI reduce the amount given to me? If so, would they give me more for staying off-campus or at home with my parents?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Hi, I live about twenty minutes away from UCI as well.</p>
<p>I think it might depend on your financial situation, but I would guess that your financial aid will definitely be adjusted depending on whether you stay on campus or at home. I'm the opposite of you and changed my status from living at home to on campus and the aid given to me increased a little bit. Of course, it depends on your preferences and situation on what would be best. Unless your situation is a little different, I would say that although you may lose some aid if you live at home, that's ten grand (for room and board) lifted off your shoulders....but you do lose the dorming experience.</p>
<p>yes it will change if you live at home.</p>
<p>Thanks your your replies. My parents have to pay for a lot of my tuition because our income is supposedly too high (according to fafsa standards), but we are merely middle class. I was not given any grants, but about 7k from UCI gift aid, so the remaining amount is still quite large. </p>
<p>I know I will be losing dorming experience, but I guess I could dorm next year. My parents do not mind paying for dorming; however, they stated that I would not be given a car if I do. If I stay home, then I can help my family a lot more and maintain my tutoring job. </p>
<p>My question is that would I be given more if I listed as living off campus or living at home? </p>
<p>I initially thought the amount would be reduced dramatically, but thanks PoorCookie for clearing that up.</p>
<p>i'd rather go without a car and dorm instead (but i am megabiased.)</p>
<p>first year dorming is the most important, forego it after that first year if you want to.</p>
<p>To answer your question... since we are probably in the same situation (middle class with not that much aid), I would say that your financial aid will not be decreased TOO much because when I switched to "on campus" on my application I was only given 1k or so more. </p>
<p>It's definitely much cheaper living at home, but here's how I look at it: The first year is probably the toughest year. It's the only year I'll dorm myself since I also live close, but I'm sure the experience will be worth it. Besides, even if you decide to dorm for a year or two, at least the remaining years are way cheaper than other people because instead of getting apartments you can live at home. That's just something to consider, but yeah, the money is a lot.</p>
<p>Here is the cost information for UCI</p>
<p>[url=<a href="http://www.ofas.uci.edu/content/costs.aspx?nav=1%5DCosts%5B/url">http://www.ofas.uci.edu/content/costs.aspx?nav=1]Costs[/url</a>]</p>
<p>Financial aid is based on cost of attendance. If you put that you were going to live on campus the COA is $23987. If you live at home it will change to $18322. If the aid you have is need based it may be considerably reduced. Check with them before you make the decision (if it is a deciding factor in your decision).</p>
<p>Thanks for your responses. Now I have no idea what to do. I think that if I live on campus, I might get off task a bit because that is what I tend to do. I also know a few people that go to UCI and their grades have slipped a lot due to many factors. The majority of my friends are not dorming for their personal reasons, but I know I would be saving my parents at least 10k. But then again, I would be throwing away an opportunity to experience dorming life.</p>
<p>Before you make any decisions ask the school what, if any, affect this would make on your financial aid. Then you have a realistic basis for a decision. Until then you are trying to make a decision based on unknowns.</p>
<p>If you do dorm it is entirely within your control whether you let the distractions affect your grades.</p>
<p>IMO, it's worth living on campus at least 1yr. The cost is less than a car payment when spread out over time</p>